Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-21
H1RAms CHARTER REVOKED.


Summary Action of the Grand Lodge,
#. and A. NJ, at Hartford, Yesterday |
Its Action Pronounced Most Arbi- |
trary and Hi Advised by Many masOns |
I'm This City-Hon. N. ID. Sperrys Hon.
Lynde harrison and Six other Hiram
Members Expelled from Free Mason
ry.
HARTFORD, April 20.-The special meeting
of the Grand lodge, F. and A. NJ, held in
this city to-day, was called by Grand Master
Henry Il. Green, of Danielsonville, to effect,
if possible, a settlement of the trouble with
Hiram lodge of New Haven. Besides the
grand master the following members of the
Grand lodge were present: John w. Mix, of
Yalesville, deputy grand master; John II.
Swartwout, of Stamford, grand senior war
den; Clark Buckingham, of New Haven,
grand junior warden; Joseph K. Wheeler, of
Hartford, grand secretary; Arthur Il. Brew
er, of Norwich, grand senior deacon; Hugh
Sterling, of Bridgeport, grand junior deacon;
William W. Price, of New Haven, grand
marshal; Edward o. Goodwin, of East Hart
ford, grand senior steward; Edward A.Nellis,
of West winsted, grand junior steward;
and Edward v. Main, of Hartford, grand
tyler. The only absentees were John g..
Root of Hartford, grand treasurer, and the
Rev. George r. Warner of Danielsonville,
grand chaplain. The meeting was largely
attended by the local Masons and several
from New Haven. The regular annual ses-
sion of the Grand lodge is held in January,
and special meetings are called only in cases
of great emergency, like the present All
the members of Hiram lodge had been in
vited to be present, but only few attended
the session.
The trouble between the Grand lodge and
Hiram lodge No. 1, the latter claims in its
circular, arises from the undue assumption of
power of the Grand lodge to interfere with
and change the ancient form of work in Hi
ram lodge, form of work handed down
from generation to generation and sanctioned
by many years of use not only in the Blue
lodge, but in the Grand lodge itself. Hiram,
believing that the Grand lodge was exceed
ing its power, declined to submit. For this
the Grand lodge has attempted to dispose of
Old Hirams officers and to put certain of
the members, as well as the lodge itself, on
trial and threatening a revocation of the
lodge charter. Old Hiram claims that its
position is right Historically, legally and
constitutionally.
The meeting to day in this city was held
in Masonic Hall at II o'clock. After the
opening of the Grand lodge, Grand Master
Green delivered lengthy address, reciting
the attitude of the members of the Grand
lOuR0 on GnlS mucu ulSpuCeu QueStlOu At
the close of the address a committee was APP
pointed to present a report in relation to the
existing differences and the best mode OF
settlement, following which an adjournment
was taken until 2:30 this afternoon.
WHAT THE GRAND LODGE DID IN DETAIL.
HARTFORD, April 20.-The Grand lodge,
F. and A. M, of Connecticut at special
meeting to-day passed resolutions revoking
the charter of Hiram No 1 of New Haven,
e., houNrSa into wit an
member of Hiram lodge until he declares his |
allegiance to the Grand lodge of Connecticut |
and promises obedience thereto. Such declar- |
alton and promise must be filed with such |
lodge visited, or the same may be filed with |
the grand secretary, who is authorized to |
issue a certificate of such filing and the pro-
duction of such certificate shall be sufficient |
evidence of compliance with the resolution. |
Members of Hiram lodge may by dispense |
ton of the grand master open another lodge |
in New Haven. Eight members of Hiram |
lodge, three of whom are the Hon. N. D. |
Sperry, ex-postmaster of New Haven, the |
Hon. Lynde Harrison and the treasurer of /
the lodge, were expelled from Freemasonry. |
WHAT THEY SAY IN NEW HAVEN.
Prominent Masons in this city last night !
on reception of the above news condemned |
the action of the Grand lodge as exceedingly 1
arbitrary and uncalled for. Other prominent /
Masons conversant with the facts of the |
Grand lodge meeting said there was not
shadow of an attempt by the Grand lodge at
a compromise, adding that one could have
been made alike honorable to both the con-
tending bodies.
Worshipful Master Wiser of Hiram said /
last night that old Hiram would fall back /
upon its old original charter which it ope- |
rated under for many years before the Grand /
could prohibit communication with other |
Connecticut lodges. but not with Masons |
from lodges out of the State. Old Hiram |
was shocked at the precipitate action of the |
Grand lodge, but there would be a meeting |
of Hiram lodge tonight the same as usual. |
OF course there will be a lively meeting of /
Old Hiram to-night-one memorable in its |
history.
Messrs. Fl. E. Benton, w. A. Wright and Il
2. T. Graham, of Hiram, were at the session Il
of the Grand lodge yesterday, but were not |
present to be heard as representatives of |
Hiram.
No defense was put in by Hiram lodge. |
Two weeks ago it sent its plea to the Grand /
lodge, as did each of the eight who were ex- i
PEELED. Said prominent Mason: ''The |
fight is now at end. AS there was no one /
from Hiram present at the meeting in oppo-
sition they found the lodge guilty on charges
preferred, with the exception of one which |
there was no proof for. It was that the
members of Hiram had instigated |
certain statements made in the |
papers which tended towards the abuse |
of the Grand lodge we shall continue to /
hold on to all property rights. Although |
the Grand lodge may dispute our right to do |
SO, the law of the Statee will uphold us in |
this respect.
The others expelled from the lodge were: !
Julius Twiss, James D. Dewell, Newell F. |
Burrit, John R. Hutchinson, F. M. Wiser |
and Charles E. Frisbie.
Other Masonic gentlemen said the Grand
lodge has got big job on its hands and will
not be strange if the Grand lodge recedes
from its action and courts compromise ere
long.